Yard waste liquefier

Abstract

The invention is a device for dispersing yard waste having a tank for receiving a predetermined quantity of yard waste and liquid. At least one rotatable blade is positioned in the tank. The blade is disposed to engage and cut the yard waste. A baffle is positioned in the tank adjacent the blade. The baffle has a plurality of cutting members that are positioned substantially perpendicular to the plane of rotation for the rotatable blade. The cutting members have a sharp edge that cuts and redirects the yard waste in the tank. The rotatable blade and baffle produce a substantially liquefied slurry from the yard waste and liquid in the tank. A pump is provided for discharging the slurry from the tank.

I claim: 
     
       1. A device for dispersing yard waste comprising: a tank for receiving a predetermined quantity of said yard waste and a predetermined quantity of liquid, said tank having a substantially cylindrical lower portion and an upper portion that converges to form an opening;   a lid hingably connected to said upper portion of said tank, said lid being disposed to close said opening in said upper portion of said tank;   at least one rotatable blade positioned in said tank, said blade being disposed to engage and cut said yard waste;   a baffle positioned in said tank adjacent said blade, said baffle having a plurality of cutting members positioned substantially perpendicular to the plane of rotation for said rotatable blade, said cutting members having a sharp edge that further cuts and redirects said waste material in said tank, said rotatable blade and said baffle producing a substantially liquified slurry from said yard waste and liquid in said tank;   pump means for discharging said slurry from said tank;   a drive motor operatively connected to said rotatable blade and said pump means, said motor acting to cause said blade and said pump means to rotate; and,   a safety switch positioned on said upper portion of said tank, said safety switch being operatively connected to said drive motor, said safety switch being disposed to be engaged by said lid when said lid closes said opening in the upper portion of said tank, said safety switch being positioned to allow said drive motor to operate only when said lid engages said safety switch.   
     
     
       2. The device of claim 1, wherein two rotatable blades are positioned in said lower portion of said tank, said rotatable blades having substantially the same length. 
     
     
       3. The device of claim 2, wherein said rotatable blades have a length that is from about 65 to about 85 percent of the diameter of said cylindrical lower portion of said tank. 
     
     
       4. A device for dispersing yard waste comprising: a tank for receiving a predetermined quantity of said yard waste and a predetermined quantity of liquid, having a substantially cylindrical lower portion and an upper portion that converges to form an opening;   two rotatable blades positioned in said lower portion of said tank, said rotatable blades having substantially the same length, one rotatable blade having an outer cutting surface that is disposed parallel to said bottom wall of said tank and said other rotatable blade having a cutting portion that is disposed at an angle from about 30° to about 60° with respect to said bottom wall of said tank, said blade being disposed to engage and cut said yard waste;   a baffle positioned in said tank adjacent said blade, said baffle having a plurality of cutting members positioned substantially perpendicular to the plane of rotation for said rotatable blade, said cutting members having a sharp edge that further cuts and redirects said waste material in said tank, said rotatable blade and said baffle producing a substantially liquified slurry from said yard waste and liquid in said tank; and   pump means for discharging said slurry from said tank.   
     
     
       5. A device for dispersing yard waste comprising: a tank for receiving a predetermined quantity of said yard waste and a predetermined quantity of liquid;   at least one rotatable blade positioned in said tank, said blade being disposed to engage and cut said yard waste;   a baffle positioned in said tank adjacent said blade, said baffle having a plurality of cutting members positioned substantially perpendicular to the plane of rotation for said rotatable blade, said cutting members of said baffle are positioned adjacent said rotatable blade and immediately adjacent said wall of said tank, said baffles including, support members connected to said cutting members in said tank, said support members extending between the ends of said cutting members that are spaced apart from the bottom wall of said tank, said cutting members having a sharp edge that further cuts and redirects said waste material in said tank, said rotatable blade and said baffle producing a substantially liquified slurry from said yard waste and liquid in said tank; and   pump means for discharging said slurry from said tank.   
     
     
       6. A device for dispersing yard waste comprising: a tank for receiving a predetermined quantity of said yard waste and a predetermined quantity of liquid;   at least one rotatable blade positioned in said tank, said blade being disposed to engage and cut said yard waste;   a baffle positioned in said tank adjacent said blade, said baffle having a plurality of cutting members positioned substantially perpendicular to the plane of rotation for said rotatable blade, said cutting members having a sharp edge that further cuts and redirects said waste material in said tank, said rotatable blade and said baffle producing a substantially liquified slurry from said yard waste and liquid in said tank; and   pump means for discharging said slurry from said tank, said pump has an inlet that is connected to said tank in the area of said rotatable blade and a discharge that is connected by a valve means to a recirculation port and a discharge pipe, said valve means allowing said material pumped from said tank by said pump to be directed to said recirculation portion whereby said material is recirculated into said tank or to said discharge pipe whereby said material is discharged from said tank.   
     
     
       7. The device of claim 4, wherein said cutting surface and said cutting portion on each end of said rotatable blades have a length that is from about 10 to about 15 percent of the length of said rotatable blades. 
     
     
       8. The device of claim 1, wherein said cutting members of said baffle are positioned adjacent said rotatable blade and immediately adjacent said wall of said tank. 
     
     
       9. The device of claim 5, wherein said support members are operatively connected to said tank to maintain said baffle in the desired position in said tank. 
     
     
       10. The device of claim 6, wherein said recirculation port is located in said portion of said tank that is spaced apart from said bottom wall of said tank. 
     
     
       11. A method for dispersing yard waste comprising: placing a predetermined quantity of said yard waste and a liquid in a tank;   rotating at least one blade in said tank to cut said yard waste;   directing said cut yard waste against a baffle in said tank, said baffle having a plurality of cutting members positioned substantially perpendicular to the plane of rotation of said blade, said cutting members having a sharp edge that further cuts and redirects said waste material in said tank, said blade and said baffle producing a substantially liquified slurry from said yard waste and liquid in said tank;   removing said yard waste and liquid from said tank and recirculating said yard waste and liquid to the region of said tank that spaced apart from said rotating blade and baffle whereby said yard waste and liquid is recirculated in said tank and further liquified by said rotating blade and said baffle; and,   discharging said slurry from said tank.   
     
     
       12. The method of claim 11 in which said rotating blade redirects said yard waste and liquid in said tank, said rotating blade causing said yard waste and liquid to be directed upwardly and into the center of said tank whereby said rotating blade and baffle recut said yard waste. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 11 in which said tank has a lid hingeably connected to said tank that closes said tank, said lid engaging a safety switch when said lid is in the closed position, said safety switch prevents said blade from rotating unless said lid is in a closed position.